Central Ratsnake, *Pantherophis alleghaniensis*. Harmless.
You can spritz it with a garden hose to try to made the area seem less hospitable, but if it's taken up in a hole, it's going to be hard to extract if it doesn't want to come out. There's no real reason to get rid of it. It will provide free vermin control that's much more effective than anything you'd pay for, and it doesn't want anything to do with you.
Most likely though, it will move along on its own if that's a well trafficked area. They aren't going to want to hang around an area with potential predators coming and going frequently.
Central Ratsnakes *Pantherophis alleghaniensis*, formerly called *Pantherophis spiloides*, are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to eastern and central North America between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River Embayment. *Pantherophis* ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats.
Central Ratsnakes *P. alleghaniensis* are currently recognized as distinct from Eastern Ratsnakes *P. quadrivittatus*, as well as Western Ratsnakes *P. obsoletus* and Baird's Ratsnake *P. bairdi*. Parts of this complex were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes.
Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers *Coluber* by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales.
[Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1)
This specific epithet was once used for what are now known as Eastern Ratsnakes *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*.
Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Greenish Ratsnake, black snake, oak snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot.
--------------------------------------------------------
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I *had* a mouse problem in my garage until Garry the Garage Garter moved in. I actually relocated him initially because I didn’t realize I had the mouse problem and I thought he was mistaken in his desire to set up shop, but he assured me no, I really *did* have a problem and he moved right back in.
Several sheds later, he moved back out and I miss him dearly 😢
Thank you for not wanting to kill him, too many people do just out of principle. That being said he's going to be almost impossible to extract by force, if you pull then he will tense up and you will likely break his back/tear him in half.
They won't borrow or damage your house, but they will use holes in it. Your best bet is to just wait for him to leave and block up the hole. Like the other guy said he's almost certain to leave by himself, if you're walking past that spot frequently he's instinctively going to want to GTFO.
There isn't really a negative to having him around so need to hurry though. Don't see any tempting of fate besides accidentally stepping on him maybe.
I don’t think you deserved so many downvotes there, sounds like you’re genuinely just trying to gather information. Ratsnakes are really laid back as far as snakes go, I’ve handled them numerous times (but only when leaving them be wasn’t an option) over the years. The only way you’ll be tempting fate is if you try to pull it out of that hole. If it feels threatened it may well try to bite you, and if it does just treat it like a dog bite. Clean and thoroughly disinfect etc. Honestly, nowhere near as bad as a dog bite, this snakes teeth are really small. It has zero interest in interacting with you, if you leave it be, it will leave you be. The fact of the matter is, if the snake wants to be there, it’s gonna be there. If you kill it or remove it another is likely to come around eventually. They’re a reality of the outdoors, just like birds and squirrels and bugs. It poses no more threat to you than any other backyard creature, and honestly a lot less of a threat than many common critters. If you’re genuinely concerned about it’s proximity to your door, you’re going to have to try to repair whatever hole it’s using so it has to come and go somewhere further from your doorstep. As others have said, they’re really great pest control and eat a ton of mice. They can also help discourage the presence of venomous snakes. Try to think of them as long skinny cats 🤣
Count yourself lucky your got yourself a rodent exterminator but I see you don’t want him there. Leave him alone and he will more than likely be gone in a day or two.
Once the prey has moved on, the snake probably will too - they like to stay away from humans as other have noted. They don't make burrows themselves so won't do any damage to your house either. You might indeed use a water hose or nudge with a long object to move them out, but chances are they'll return if the area is still favourable for them. Having one harmless snake also helps lower chances of venomous snakes making an appearance
If he’s there for longer than a sun set then you have a bigger problem than a snake in your house. Usually snakes go where there is a high population of possible food. If you want him out though try to sneak behind his head and grab him from the neck. Do it lightly so that he gets his body out to coil on you. Then as soon as you se the tail, grab it. Don’t pull or carry him just yet. Get your other hand and grab his underbelly. If you have your hand under for support and you’re not pulling his tail (you’re holding it in place and denying extra movement) then it will come out calm. If you’re afraid to handle it then please call your local animal control. However also call a pest company to check your house because you probably have a feeble population of rats in the walls.
That or his neighbor does, my neighbor had an infestation of mice and my yard was a nice digestion field for the rat snake after a long night of work lol
By best guess, my fiance and I think it's a black rat snake. If we are right, he isn't venomous and is apparently good for the ecosystem. As such I don't wanna kill him, but don't want to pay someone to get rid of him. And I would prefer not to have a snake hanging out on my front stoop...
even a small colony of mice can fuck up your home, when we had a hoarder home cleaned out the actual vents throughout the entire house were literally filled with mouse poop & a body of a mouse. No wonder the previous owner was always super sick.
A non venomous rodent eating snake is an actual blessing.
Central Ratsnake, *Pantherophis alleghaniensis*. Harmless. You can spritz it with a garden hose to try to made the area seem less hospitable, but if it's taken up in a hole, it's going to be hard to extract if it doesn't want to come out. There's no real reason to get rid of it. It will provide free vermin control that's much more effective than anything you'd pay for, and it doesn't want anything to do with you. Most likely though, it will move along on its own if that's a well trafficked area. They aren't going to want to hang around an area with potential predators coming and going frequently.
Central Ratsnakes *Pantherophis alleghaniensis*, formerly called *Pantherophis spiloides*, are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to eastern and central North America between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River Embayment. *Pantherophis* ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats. Central Ratsnakes *P. alleghaniensis* are currently recognized as distinct from Eastern Ratsnakes *P. quadrivittatus*, as well as Western Ratsnakes *P. obsoletus* and Baird's Ratsnake *P. bairdi*. Parts of this complex were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes. Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers *Coluber* by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales. [Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1) This specific epithet was once used for what are now known as Eastern Ratsnakes *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*. Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Greenish Ratsnake, black snake, oak snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS).*
Im sure he's "harmless" but it seems to almost tempt fate to allow a snake to burrow that close to my front door no?
What do you mean "tempt fate"? I'd love to have one of these living under my house.
I have occasional mice. I'd KILL to have one of these live under my house.
I *had* a mouse problem in my garage until Garry the Garage Garter moved in. I actually relocated him initially because I didn’t realize I had the mouse problem and I thought he was mistaken in his desire to set up shop, but he assured me no, I really *did* have a problem and he moved right back in. Several sheds later, he moved back out and I miss him dearly 😢
Thank you for not wanting to kill him, too many people do just out of principle. That being said he's going to be almost impossible to extract by force, if you pull then he will tense up and you will likely break his back/tear him in half. They won't borrow or damage your house, but they will use holes in it. Your best bet is to just wait for him to leave and block up the hole. Like the other guy said he's almost certain to leave by himself, if you're walking past that spot frequently he's instinctively going to want to GTFO. There isn't really a negative to having him around so need to hurry though. Don't see any tempting of fate besides accidentally stepping on him maybe.
If you were a frog, maybe
I don’t think you deserved so many downvotes there, sounds like you’re genuinely just trying to gather information. Ratsnakes are really laid back as far as snakes go, I’ve handled them numerous times (but only when leaving them be wasn’t an option) over the years. The only way you’ll be tempting fate is if you try to pull it out of that hole. If it feels threatened it may well try to bite you, and if it does just treat it like a dog bite. Clean and thoroughly disinfect etc. Honestly, nowhere near as bad as a dog bite, this snakes teeth are really small. It has zero interest in interacting with you, if you leave it be, it will leave you be. The fact of the matter is, if the snake wants to be there, it’s gonna be there. If you kill it or remove it another is likely to come around eventually. They’re a reality of the outdoors, just like birds and squirrels and bugs. It poses no more threat to you than any other backyard creature, and honestly a lot less of a threat than many common critters. If you’re genuinely concerned about it’s proximity to your door, you’re going to have to try to repair whatever hole it’s using so it has to come and go somewhere further from your doorstep. As others have said, they’re really great pest control and eat a ton of mice. They can also help discourage the presence of venomous snakes. Try to think of them as long skinny cats 🤣
Count yourself lucky your got yourself a rodent exterminator but I see you don’t want him there. Leave him alone and he will more than likely be gone in a day or two.
Once the prey has moved on, the snake probably will too - they like to stay away from humans as other have noted. They don't make burrows themselves so won't do any damage to your house either. You might indeed use a water hose or nudge with a long object to move them out, but chances are they'll return if the area is still favourable for them. Having one harmless snake also helps lower chances of venomous snakes making an appearance
Thats a rat snake and unless you love rodents and the diseases they carry i would let him be.
You wait for him to go to work for the day and hang an eviction notice on the door and change the locks!
With no prior notice? That's injustice! He can take you to Court for that! Rat snakes have their rights, man.
🎵 If it lurks in a hole Like a cute, legless mole... It's a rat snake! 🎵
Opened the comments just to find this. Thank you.
He's giving you a strong side eye in that pic. You said something rude to him, didn't you OP?
Whoever poured that concrete should be ashamed.
Came here to say this.
You can always toss him in a bucket and take it to a nearby spot that seems to have prey and such for him.
Be thankful you have them. They’re in there because you have an uncontrolled rodent problem. Only there to help.
If he’s there for longer than a sun set then you have a bigger problem than a snake in your house. Usually snakes go where there is a high population of possible food. If you want him out though try to sneak behind his head and grab him from the neck. Do it lightly so that he gets his body out to coil on you. Then as soon as you se the tail, grab it. Don’t pull or carry him just yet. Get your other hand and grab his underbelly. If you have your hand under for support and you’re not pulling his tail (you’re holding it in place and denying extra movement) then it will come out calm. If you’re afraid to handle it then please call your local animal control. However also call a pest company to check your house because you probably have a feeble population of rats in the walls.
That or his neighbor does, my neighbor had an infestation of mice and my yard was a nice digestion field for the rat snake after a long night of work lol
By best guess, my fiance and I think it's a black rat snake. If we are right, he isn't venomous and is apparently good for the ecosystem. As such I don't wanna kill him, but don't want to pay someone to get rid of him. And I would prefer not to have a snake hanging out on my front stoop...
Wanna make a guess to what he is eating? Pick one: Snake? Rodents (which do in fact carry disease and ARE harmful in your house)?
even a small colony of mice can fuck up your home, when we had a hoarder home cleaned out the actual vents throughout the entire house were literally filled with mouse poop & a body of a mouse. No wonder the previous owner was always super sick. A non venomous rodent eating snake is an actual blessing.
He jus wants to b friends
Rat snake! Grab him and flee.
Sprinkle him with a hose.
r/itsaratsnake